David J. Duffy

David J. Duffy passed away peacefully in his sleep, at home, after a lengthy illness on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Gloucester, MA. He was the devoted and loving husband of Jan (Huttunen) Duffy.
Dave was born on April 21, 1958, in New York City, where he was adopted into a loving family and he grew up in Pawling, NY. After graduating from Pawling High School, he attended Marietta College where he was a proud member and rush chairman of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. It was also at Marietta where he met Jan. He proposed at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, and they married soon after graduating from Marietta College, where he earned his B.A. degree in Economics.
Dave had a long and varied career in corporate finance. He quickly rose through the ranks of various companies, getting his start with American Maize Products Company, where he established the internal audit department. This would lead him to the Pittston Company, where he managed the global treasury and negotiated financing worldwide, as their Corporate Assistant Treasurer, while also serving as Treasurer of their subsidiaries, Brinks Inc., BAX Global and Pittston Minerals. Afterwards, he accepted the challenge to lead Quaker Coal Co. through chapter 11 reorganization as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and would also continue on to hold successful CFO and Treasurer positions with AMCI, Alpha Natural Resources, Edison Learning Inc., EVCI Career Colleges Holding Corp and Jones Lang LaSalle, often with a primary focus on restructuring and growth.
His varied career also meant moving his family several times. They have lived in Connecticut-Ridgefield for the longest, but also Danbury and New Milford, as well as Richmond, VA and Lexington, KY. When Dave partially retired, they moved to Rockport, MA where Jan had grown up and family and friends still lived. They had always spent holidays and long weekends in Rockport and Dave had made many friends on Cape Ann throughout the years. They owned and operated the Addison Choate Inn for several years before fully retiring and moving to Gloucester, MA.
His career also took him to many countries around the world where he made many new friends. He sometimes worked with well-known celebrities and politicians, some of whom he served with on company boards. Dave was the kind of person who could be best friends with everyone from the lowest employee to the president of a company.
Dave was larger than life and could capture a room with his innate ability to draw people to him. His humor, his stories, and yes, tall tales at times, were loved by all. He had an infectious laugh and when Dave laughed you couldn't help but laugh too. He was always optimistic, even during his health battles. Dave just found joy in life.
He was a great dad who supported his children's varied interests and was always involved in their lives. He was great with children, probably because he was a child at heart. He adored his beautiful granddaughters, Aili and Lila and he loved being surrounded by his family.
Next to family, his greatest love was baseball. He was a huge Mets fan and would go to their games whenever he had the chance, attending many opening days. He also enjoyed visiting other stadiums around the country. Dave loved coaching his sons' teams, from Little League through Babe Ruth and Legion leagues. He played softball on his company teams as well, often remembering back to "The Big Catch" he once made in center field. Dave was a football fan and a lifelong NY Giants fan.
Dave is survived by his wife, Jan Duffy; his much loved children, Brian Duffy of Gloucester, MA, Sean Duffy and his wife Vida (Chung) of Austin, TX, Jennifer Pereira and her husband Carlos of Gloucester, MA; his beloved granddaughters, Aili Lane and Lila Pereira of Gloucester, MA; His sister Colleen McDonald and her husband Tony of Cambridge NY; His brother-in-law John Huttunen and his wife Heidi of Salem, MA; His sister-in-law Dianne Doyle and her husband James Doyle, of Rockport, MA; several nieces and nephews, their spouses and their children, and his best friend since childhood, Ralph Eigenrauch and his wife Kathi of Trumbull CT.
Dave was predeceased by his father, H. Joseph Duffy; his mother, Barbara (Nettleton) Duffy; his father-in-law, John Huttunen; his mother-in-law, Jean (Bruce) Huttunen; his brother-in-law, William (Billy) Huttunen and several dear friends and work associates.
Dave was blessed to have recently met his biological sister, Barbara Kempf, who had finally found him after decades of searching. With her, came a whole new family who have been welcomed into ours, and who can hopefully fill a small part of the void that Dave's passing has left in our world.
Dave was a born leader and mentor to many, generous yet humble, and loved by many. He will be missed.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Dave, on Sunday, June 8, from 4:00p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Minglewood Harborside (Captain's Courageous Room), 25 Rogers Street, Gloucester, MA. Arrangements by the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester. For online condolences, please visit www.greelyfuneralhome.com